𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙮 | 𝙍𝙄𝙄𝙕𝙀 𝙎𝙤𝙝𝙚𝙚 𝙭 𝙔/𝙉

Chapter 11: Requesting for Another Chance

On a crisp Sunday morning, the dance studio at SM Entertainment buzzed with energy as Y/N threw herself into a rigorous practice session. The mirrored walls reflected her every move, and the sound of music echoed through the space. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she executed each step with precision, determined to perfect every nuance of the routine. The air was filled with a mix of determination and dedication, a testament to Y/N's commitment to her craft.

Meanwhile, in the same building, Sohee and the others were performing tasks to prepare for performances and idol life. Responsibilities lined up like a series of checkpoints, demanding his attention at every turn. Meetings, rehearsals, and discussions about upcoming performances consumed his day, leaving little room for personal pursuits. The members prepared for the next set of activities that the company had set for them.

For some time during their schedule that day, RIIZE and the backup dancers were practicing some freestyles together. This allowed Y/N and Sohee to work together and bond.

Amidst the dance practice, Shotaro's usually focused demeanor carried a hint of subtle discomfort. The mirrored walls reflected Y/N's dedication to the dance routine, her every movement a testament to her commitment. However, Shotaro's mind wasn't entirely in sync with the beats of the music. He had seen the photos from her recent aquarium date with Sohee but didn't reply to them.

As Y/N immersed herself in the dance, the room echoed with the rhythmic sound of her footsteps and the music. However, the atmosphere bore a subtle tension. Shotaro's distant gaze betrayed the storm of emotions swirling within him. Jealousy, a feeling he hadn't expected to harbor, crept into his heart. He watched Y/N's passion, grappling with the realization that her heart seemed to have found a new rhythm outside the confines of their shared world.

Unseen and unheard amidst the dance studio's ambiance, the unspoken words lingered like echoes, creating a delicate web of tension between Shotaro and Y/N. She danced, her movements graceful and purposeful, yet unaware of the invisible threads tying her to Shotaro's lingering gaze.

Feeling the tension in the air, Y/N couldn't ignore the shift in Shotaro's demeanor. Determined to address the underlying discomfort, she approached him with a warm smile, "Hey Shotaro! How have you been?

Shotaro, however, responded with a curt acknowledgment, "I've been busy," his gaze carrying a weight that wasn't there before. An awkward silence settled between them, and Y/N couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she couldn't resist bringing up the recent aquarium date with Sohee. "Sohee took me out on a date," she shared, her voice carrying a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. "It went well," she added, wanting to share her happiness with Shotaro, whom she considered a good friend. As she thanked him for encouraging her to give Sohee a chance, she couldn't help but notice the subtle change in Shotaro's expression.

His response, a forced smile accompanied by a monotonous "of course," struck a dissonant chord. Y/N, perceptive to the nuances in his demeanor, sensed that the smile didn't reach his eyes. A fleeting moment of hurt crossed Shotaro's features, carefully concealed behind a facade. The unspoken tension lingered, leaving both of them caught in a silent dance of emotions.

As Shotaro excused himself, clearing his throat and offering a somewhat forced smile, Y/N couldn't shake off the odd feeling that lingered. Wondering if he might not be feeling well, she decided to brush it off and approached Sohee with a cheerful greeting. Sohee, engrossed in his phone, looked up and returned her smile with a friendly "hi."

As they stood there, Y/N couldn't help but gush about Sohee's freestyle. "Sohee, your freestyle was amazing! I was so impressed," she exclaimed.

Sohee chuckled bashfully, "Oh, thank you, Y/N. Freestyling is not my strong suit, though. It's quite challenging."

Y/N, determined to boost his confidence, replied, "Trust me, it gets easier with practice. You just have to let go and feel the music. More exposure to a diverse selection of music helps."
"Thanks for the encouragement," Sohee said with a grateful smile.
Feeling a connection forming between them, Y/N suddenly remembered the matching keychain. Clapping her hands in excitement, she reached into her bag and pulled it out. "Look, Sohee! Our matching keychains. I attached mine to my work bag," she said with a wide smile on her face.
Sohee's eyes lit up as he mirrored her actions, revealing the keychain on his bag. "I still have mine too. It's a nice reminder," he admitted, appreciating the subtle bond they shared.As they enjoyed this small yet meaningful moment, an awkward yet comforting silence settled between them. Unbeknownst to them, Shotaro observed from a distance, his expression growing more serious as internal feelings of jealousy simmered within.

As Y/N focused on her dance practice, she felt a gentle buzz in her pocket. Retrieving her phone, she found a message from Shotaro. "The otters look cute! The photos are cute too." Then he sent another message, "You free? Want to grab dinner again at the same place?" he texted. Looking up, she noticed Shotaro making eye contact with her from across the room. She gave a thumbs up in response, and Shotaro began walking toward the exit, gesturing for her to join him.

Turning to Sohee, she smiled and said, "Hey, Sohee, I have to get going. I'll text you later, okay?" He nodded understandingly, waving goodbye as she headed out.

Following Shotaro into the hallway, he informed her, "I drove here, so I can drive us to the restaurant. Ready to go?"
Nodding in agreement, Y/N followed along, the hallway lights casting a warm glow as they made their way to Shotaro's car. The cool evening air embraced them as they stepped outside, and Y/N couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and curiosity about the upcoming dinner with Shotaro.

The car ride unfolded in a subtle symphony of awkwardness, accentuated by the chill in the air. The faint hum of the engine provided a soft backdrop to the occasional, uncertain glances exchanged between Y/N and Shotaro. The car's interior, dimly illuminated by the soft glow of streetlights passing by, felt like a cocoon of uneasy silence.

Y/N clasped her hands together, fingers fidgeting slightly as she stared out of the window, the city lights blurring into streaks against the night sky. The rhythmic sound of the turn signal punctuated the quiet, punctuating the moments when neither seemed to find the right words to break the tension. Despite the familiarity of the restaurant destination, an unspoken divide lingered in the confined space of the car. Each passing minute felt like an eternity, and Y/N couldn't help but wonder if Shotaro sensed the same unease that knitted the air between them.

As they settled into the cozy ambiance of the restaurant, Shotaro exchanged friendly waves with the familiar staff, creating a warm atmosphere. Once seated, he casually ordered tea and his favorite bowl."Tea and the usual bowl for me," he said to the waiter. Eyes were on Y/N who looked a bit disorganized, quickly scanning the menu to see if there was something different she wanted to get.

"I'll get the same," she ended up saying. The waiter nodded and headed to the kitchen.

As they awaited their orders, a brief moment of silence fell between them. Breaking it, Shotaro casually began, "I spoke with Mei recently."
Y/N's eyes widened with surprise. "Mei? How is she? How did you guys end up talking?" she asked with a mix of curiosity and concern etched across her face.

"I ran into her at a party with some of the NCT members," Shotaro explained, a casual tone in his voice.

Y/N's eyes widened a little more as she processed the information. "Oh, really? How is she doing?" she inquired, subtly noting the potential details hanging in the air, like Mei's well-being and the context of their conversation.

As Shotaro continued, he mentioned that Mei was a bit drunk, giggling uncontrollably because she had recently gone through a breakup with her boyfriend. Y/N expressed a sympathetic "Aw, that must have been rough," as she sipped her tea.
"Yeah," Shotaro acknowledged,

"How did you recognize her?" Y/N asked, under the impression that he approached her first.

"Oh, she was the one who recognized me first and called out to me," he explained.

Y/N raised an eyebrow, curious, "She did?"
Shotaro chuckled, "She called out my name and kept saying it's Mei from the dance academy."

Y/N nodded in understanding, taking another sip of her tea. Then, the conversation took an unexpected turn.
"And we..." Shotaro hesitated before admitting, "We slept together."

A subtle pang of discomfort hit Y/N as she processed the revelation. Mei was a friend who knew about her childhood crush on Shotaro. The news brought a mix of emotions, but she brushed it off, reminding herself that her feelings had evolved, and now she was interested in Sohee.

"Oh, wow," was all Y/N could mutter.

Shotaro continued recounting the encounter, sharing Mei's comment after they slept together. Mei had mentioned, "It's ironic we slept together because Y/N used to be so obsessed with you, Shotaro." Y/N felt exposed and embarrassed as her secret crush was laid bare.

Mei went on to tell Shotaro, "Y/N had a huge crush on you for years but never admitted it. Haha, I even encouraged Y/N to make Instagram videos of her dancing, knowing it was a way for her to catch your attention. Honestly, it was ridiculous how passionate Y/N was about dance because of you, and how much effort she put into it, only to never get your attention in the end." Y/N fell silent, hurt by the revelations.

Shotaro cleared his throat, breaking the heavy atmosphere. "I got dressed and left. I haven't talked to her since then."

Y/N tried to process the information, feeling a mix of emotions. The revelation stung, and she wasn't sure how to respond.

"I see..." That was all Y/N could say.

"Do you still have feelings for me?" He asked with a glint of hope in his eyes.

The restaurant buzzed with activity as Shotaro's question hung in the air. Y/N, her gaze shifting downward, shook her head in response.

"No, not anymore," she admitted. "I used to have a crush on you, but it was more like admiration. I've moved on, and I genuinely like Sohee now."

Shotaro fell into a contemplative silence, doubt apparent in his voice. After a moment, he spoke up, desperation coloring his eyes.

"Y/N, please... give me a chance. I didn't know you felt that way about me. I think you are a great person and I want to get to know you more," he implored.

Y/N, caught off guard, tilted her head in confusion. The ambiance of the restaurant created a tense atmosphere as their words hung in the air, the aroma of their food temporarily forgotten in the weight of the moment.

"Where did this come from?" Y/N let out a nervous chuckle.

"Honestly, when we met again, I felt drawn to you. You've changed a lot, you are prettier, a great dancer, and you aren't as shy around me as you were back then," he went on, "I never saw you in that way in the past because you were so young. But now that we connected again, I feel like things can go somewhere..." He confessed.

Y/N was very unsure what to say. His proposition did not sit well with her because her feelings for him were no longer. Her voice was silent, reflecting the silence of her heart with Shotaro. 

"Before you answer, let me explain. Honestly, I didn't think you liked me in that way. I thought it was just friendly. So, when Sohee showed interest in you, I just assumed you guys would instantly hit it off, which you guys did. So I suppressed my feelings and tried keeping the same image I had been projecting on you since childhood," he articulated. 

"But-" Y/N tried speaking.

"-Please," he pleaded, "Consider me. I know you had a great time on a date with Sohee... But I can do better. I have a car, haha. I can treat you better than him, I can give you all of my attention," he proposed.

"Why didn't you treat me better than Sohee before? Why didn't you give me the right attention before?" Y/N contradicted.

Shotaro's lips curled uncomfortably, feeling the sharp attack of Y/N's rhetorical questions. "I didn't know you liked me-"

"Couldn't you tell by the way I looked at you? I obviously was interested in you. But, I am sorry, I don't think I can give you a chance. I was stuck on you for years, and I finally got over it," Y/N said with a shakey voice, tears started to form. "I have to go, sorry," Y/N got up and grabbed her bag. 

"Hey," he called out as she began walking to the door, "Let me take you home," he shouted. He turned to the restaurant's staff and shouted to put it on his tab while running out the door.

"Y/N! Wait!" Shotaro grabbed her hand. She froze, unable to think or speak. Her eyes avoided meeting Shotaro's. 

"Let me take you home, at least. We don't have to talk in the car," he told her. She followed him to the car silently, seating herself in the passenger seat. 

The car ride was suffocatingly silent, the tension palpable. Shotaro focused on the road, stealing occasional glances at Y/N, who stared out of the window, lost in her thoughts. The city lights blurred as they drove, mirroring the uncertainty that filled the car.

As they pulled up to Y/N's dorm, neither spoke a word. Shotaro parked the car, and Y/N hesitated for a moment before unbuckling her seatbelt. She opened the door, but before stepping out, Shotaro gently grabbed her arm.

"Y/N, I just want you to know that I didn't mean to overwhelm you. I... I just needed to be honest with you," he said softly.

Y/N nodded, still avoiding eye contact. "I appreciate your honesty, Shotaro. But I stand with what I said in the restaurant," she replied, her voice shaky.

"Okay," he accepted defeat, "But if you change your mind, I am always here," he offered.
She managed a weak smile, grateful for his understanding, and stepped out of the car. As Shotaro drove away, Y/N stood outside her dorm, the cold wind biting at her. She couldn't shake the mix of emotions swirling within her – confusion, sadness, and the remnants of a past crush that seemed to resurface unexpectedly.

Inside her room, Y/N curled up on her bed, contemplating the unexpected turn of events. The encounter with Shotaro had reopened wounds she thought were healed, and she found herself questioning the complexities of her emotions. As she stared at the ceiling, she couldn't escape the lingering feeling that the past had resurfaced to challenge the newfound connection she had with Sohee. The events of the night left her torn between her past and the uncertain future that lay ahead.

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author's note: can you believe this actually happened to me but in a more cringe high school way??? LOL. it wasn't like this dramatic but indeed something similar happened -.- i was so annoyed lmao.